Alzheimer

It is becoming increasingly clear that Alzheimer Disease (AD) represents a syndrome with well-defined clinical and neuropathological hallmarks but despite extensive investigation, the causes and mechanisms underlying the initiation and development of the disease remain still poorly understood.

There is only consensus on the respective role and importance of the two best described events associated with AD:

the relase of amyloid-beta 42 peptides and their extracellular aggregation in oligomers and ultimately in plaques

hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-binding protein Tau by various kinases

HCS Pharma wants to develop an assay which is as much as relevant as possible. This assay is still under development.

By using an amyloid-beta 42 inducer, we can reproduce the production of Amyloid beta 42 in the cell and follow the cytotoxicity due to the high level of Amyloid beta 42. This effect is highly enhanced by the presence of amyloid beta 40 and LPS in media culture:

Neuroprotective effect has also been observed in this model with donepezil, a well known drug used for AD treatment: